Is it Spring Festival, Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year ?

Let's call it Lunar New Year, and I'd tell you why so ?

As you may be aware, mainland Chinese call it "Spring Festival", everyone else call it "Chinese New Year", and the technically correct ones call it "Lunar New Year".

So, which is which ? They're all correct.

However, I think it's about time we should decide which is most appropriate among the three so as not to confuse and as a matter of globalization. As Son of Dragon, I think "Lunar New Year" is probably more suitable and I'd tell you briefly why so ?

"Spring Festival"


This is the "scholarly correct" version. It's contextually succinct because it's the beginning of Spring in China ...
BUT
... this does not really apply non-temperate regions such as the South and the Western part of China, where I believe there is no distinct four seasons there. And this one obviously also sounded weird for folks in the tropical regions from Singapore to Sao Paolo (Chinese or otherwise), where there is no such thing as Spring ever and as such, the word "Spring" simply isn't suitable, globally speaking. Calling it "Spring Festival" is like calling Christmas "Winter Day" for folks in Barbados ... It just doesn't make sense.
On top of that, it's not exactly a "festival" per se (you don't call "New Year Day" as "New Year Festival" for the same reason) and most Chinese elsewhere basically only celebrate it for that one single day (the first day of the Lunar calendar) just like the New Year Day.

Next,

"Chinese New Year"


This is what the occasion is traditionally known everywhere else (including Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan). Nothing wrong with it because it's indeed a Chinese thingy and it's essentially a "New Year Day" except for one thing - It's a little "racist", sorry, I mean "communal".

It's totally appropriate in the old days because Chinese typically hang around as ethnic community everywhere in the world but of late, I think this is no longer the case simply because China is now a major global player (albeit still "no class" or below par in many ways) and the celebration seems very well accepted by all other communities all over the world so much so that it begins to sound like another "universal" celebration just like New Year Day. I therefore think it's not exactly appropriate to attach the word "Chinese" to it ... After all, Vietnamese and Korean etc. also use the same lunar calendar, and the "Moon" belongs to all of us, not just Chinese, right ?

And,

"Lunar New Year"

While this may not be as commonly known as the other two, it's by far the most technically and contextually correct one, and it's also the most neutral and global one, both culturally and geographically speaking.

While people in mainland China will always call it "Chunjie" (Spring Festival) in Chinese Mandarin, and others are likely to continue to call it "New Year Day" in whatever language, Chinese dialect and or region they're located ... Let's just call it "Lunar New Year" as the global "Putonghua" - "Common Lingo".

By the way, this Dragon Year is the 4,708th year of the Lunar Calendar which was "perfected" during the Han era (that's what I was told) ... Rejoice.

Bonus: -

As a fan of violin, I kind of like the classical Chinese string instrument showcased below ... Enjoy.

Performing Arts 

Erhu
(Chinese Violin)

"New Year's eve I should be home early … (but) I brood in shame before the ancients …"

Chunjie (Spring Festival) Poem by Su Dongpo 苏東坡 

On New Year's Eve I should be home early,

but this office full of business keeps me.

Writing-brush in hand, hiding my tears,

I face all these bound prisoners, helpless

little people scrambling for food, snared

in the law's net, and no reason for shame.

I'm no different: adoring a meager salary,

I follow orders, losing my chance to live

quiet and far away. No telling who's noble,

who vile: we're all just angling for a meal.

Could I free them for the holiday at least?

I brood in shame before ancients who did.

—— Su Dongpo 苏東坡, c. 1080, transl. David Hinton

A senior regional officer in the Song government, Su Dongpo, actual name Su Shi  (苏轼 / 苏東坡 / 蘇東坡, 1037-1101), wrote the poem that was inspired by a Daoist/Confucianist humanism a 1000 years before the term 'human rights' was invented, perversely. The poem's lasting quality also lies in its realism, which is before post-modernist writing became popular in western literary circles.

-- SoD

It's Lunar New Year, not Chinese New Year

By John O'Boyle @ Star-Ledger Guest Columnist  January 27, 2012

A Lunar New Year parade in Edison.

By Yeomin Yoon

As an educator, I am deeply concerned that a glaring misnomer used Monday in a story about the Lunar New Year — the story begins with the words “Happy Chinese New Year” — inadvertently fans cultural chauvinism. A student from China walked into my office the same day and told me: “The Star Ledger, known to be the most influential and respected newspaper in the state of New Jersey, calls Lunar New Year ‘Chinese New Year.’ We Chinese love it.”

Liang Qi Chao (1873-1929), a Chinese political philosopher and prominent reformist, deplored the Chinese tendency of zizun wangda, literally translated as “self-conceited megalomaniac tendency,” such as claiming that China was the center of the world and that almost everything was invented or created by China. The use of such a misnomer as “Chinese New Year” would only encourage the cultural chauvinism and imperialism that was deplored by this Chinese reformist a century ago and would be detrimental to world peace in today’s globalized environment.

The correct translation of the name of the holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years in various eastern and southeastern Asian countries, in addition to China, is “Lunar New Year.”

For thousands of years, the Chinese called, and still call, Lunar New Year’s Day chunjie (“spring festival”). In the Chinese language, there is no such expression as “Chinese New Year” or “Chinese New Year’s Day.”

The origin of the lunar calendar can be traced back to a time when there was no such entity as what is now called China or the Chinese. People in Asian regions celebrated the Lunar New Year as one of many festivals based on the lunar calendar.

I ascribe some Americans’ tendency to use this phrase mainly to the preponderance of the Chinese and vociferousness in their celebration. Only the Chinese appear to celebrate Lunar New Year wildly and for a longer period than any other Asian people. The dragon dance festival contrasts with the modest way of celebrating Lunar New Year in other Asian countries — by paying respect to ancestors and elders, and having joyous but subdued family gatherings.

Traditionally, the dragon was the symbol of the power of the emperor in China.

Notwithstanding The Star-Ledger’s headline on this story, “Don’t fear the dragon,” China’s small neighbors are afraid of the soaring Chinese dragon. They are deeply concerned about the direction of China’s rise and apprehensively wonder as to how a triumphant, authoritarian China will treat them.

Is it beyond the pale to suggest that The Star-Ledger should use the correct expression, “Lunar New Year,” rather than “Chinese New Year”?

The former expression is more inclusive, smacks less of domination by a majority ethnic group in East and Southeast Asia, and is consistent with the grounds of neutrality. This, then, will be welcomed by millions of Asians, other than Chinese, for whom the English language is increasingly becoming lingua franca.

Yeomin Yoon is a professor of finance and international business at Seton Hall University in South Orange.

• The Year of The Dragon-22
  Jan Honomichl has added a photo to the pool:

  
• The Year of The Dragon-21
  Jan Honomichl has added a photo to the pool:

  
• The Year of The Dragon-9
  Jan Honomichl has added a photo to the pool:

  
• The Year of The Dragon-3
  Jan Honomichl has added a photo to the pool:

  
• sogni d'oroTerra-Cotta Army Xi'an, China - Canon EOS 1V 100-400 Fuji Provia 400F pushed 1 stop scanned with Minolta 5400.

Chinese New Year can help Beijing sell 'brand China'
By Mike Amour CEO, Project: Worldwide Asia Pacific @ BBC

Despite its economic success many still view China as just a hub for low-cost manufacturing

For the most heavily populated nation on earth and its rapidly spreading diaspora, elements of Chinese New Year celebrations can sometimes resemble Christmas: people travel great distances to be together, businesses shut down, cities become quiet.

Spending quality time with family and friends; exchanging the ubiquitous red packets containing freshly minted bank notes for luck; and eating and drinking are a few of the many key ingredients to celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Given the importance of the festival and the growing size of the Chinese community, this period is clearly a commercial bonanza for many Asian suppliers.

Equally, foreign brands can embrace the business opportunity by taking time to fully understand the tradition and culture of Chinese New Year - the differences from country to country, market to market - and enhance their brands' connections with consumers.

But while Asian or international brands can cash in, there is perhaps a bigger opportunity for China to enhance its position as a brand on the global stage.

Brand China
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A country with a strong, positive and forward-looking brand image can lead to increased inward investment, more tourism and increased trust”

As a marketer, it's clear to me that viewing countries as brands in their own right is increasingly important in a world where perceptions about nations are quickly shaped - rightly or wrongly - through the explosion of 24/7 media.

If countries perceive themselves as brands, they can better influence the dialogue about their role in the world by both internal and external audiences.

To do that, countries need to have a clear view of their positive attributes and values, and why those are relevant to the outside world. Too often these manifest themselves as national stereotypes that make governments feel good but fail to motivate the intended target.

This has been a challenge for China in recent times. Despite the massive success that has seen it become the world's second-largest economy, to many outside the business world, "made in China" still manages to plant the seeds of doubt about product quality.

This is an unfair paradox, since Chinese factories have been making products for some of the biggest and most admired brands in the world for years, even though we have yet to see the emergence of a Chinese brand that has lasting global appeal and acceptance.

Just think back to the 1970s. "Made in Japan" equated to poor workmanship and cheap products. Yet Sony turned that perception on its head almost single-handedly, with a couple of world-beating products and a well-defined brand.

Where to from here?
Think of a few other iconic, global brands: Apple, Nike, GE. They share common traits: authenticity combined with visible, tangible values.

All constantly strive to reinvent themselves, to be newly relevant. They are respectful of the past, but not bound by it.

Some of the world's most popular brands and gadgets are manufactured in Chinese factories
Countries like China can learn from this. A country with a strong, positive and forward-looking brand image can lead to increased inward investment, more tourism, and increased trust. All vital elements for a country which is now a major player in shaping the future of the global economy.

This in turn can help Chinese brands gain more acceptance with global consumers, further driving China's growth.

As a first step, China can view the Lunar New Year as an opportunity to help educate the rest of the world about what it stands for in the world today. To positively and proactively engage people about its values, history, culture and - critically - its ambitions.

Chinese New Year is an authentic expression of values, beliefs and attitudes that are centuries old. A very large section of the world does not understand the significance of this.

Reclaiming its place
I recall many friends and colleagues commenting on the spectacular visual images of China's contributions to world that played across our screens during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The general view was that "China has arrived".

I couldn't have disagreed more. In my view it wasn't about China "arriving". It was about China reclaiming its place on the world stage as a rapidly growing economic powerhouse.

I gently reminded my friends and colleagues that certain cultures still think in thousand-year cycles, not just the next two financial quarters.

Patience and a longer-term view are rare commodities these days. The most successful global brands understand this.